5 for 1! Deal Done! Goodbye, Worst NBA Boss

On January 18, Beijing time, a three-party transaction was officially reached:

The Pacers sent away Bruce Brown, Jordan Walla, two unprotected first-round picks in 2024, a top-four protected first-round pick in 2026, some cash, and got Siakam + 1 second-round pick from the Pelicans + Pelicans guard Kira Lewis.

The Raptors sent Siakam away to get Bruce Brown, Jordan Walla, and three first-round picks.

The Pelicans sent away Kira Lewis and a second-round pick to get some cash.

Take a closer look at the three-way deal: the Pacers traded for Siakam in search of help for Haliburton; the Raptors didn't want to renew Siakam's contract and sent him away in exchange for a bunch of draft picks; what did the Pelicans want? It's simple, save money! After sending Lewis away, the Pelicans saved $18 million and got some cash.

A second-round pick costs about $2 million to $5 million. The Pelicans reversed the second-round pick, but saved $18 million and made a lot of money. Kira Lewis, born April 6, 2001, is averaging 3.1 points, 0.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 9.6 minutes per game with the Pelicans this season while shooting 32.1%, 13.6% and 90.9% from three.

Moving on to Bruce Brown, although his contract expires in the summer of 2025, the 2024-25 season is a team option (23 million), which is equivalent to an expiring contract. Brown is averaging 12.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.1 steals per game with the Pacers this season while shooting 47.5 percent, 32.7 percent and 81.7 percent from three.

With three weeks to go before the trade deadline, the Raptors are likely to continue their quest to send Brown to his expiring contract in exchange for the draft picks needed for a rebuild. Looking at Jordan Walla's stats, he averaged 5.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1 assist in 10.1 minutes per game with the Pacers this season, shooting 45.1%, 30.6% and 81.8% from three.

For the Raptors, the deal is 1-for-5, with Siakam in exchange for 2 players + 3 first-round picks! What the Raptors really value is not 2 players, but 3 first-rounders. According to ESPN, after sending away Anunoby (who was previously traded to the Knicks) and Siakam, the Raptors will do a complete rebuild around Scottie Barnes.

As for whether Barnes can shoulder the heavy responsibility of the Raptors' rebuild, time will tell! Finally, let's talk about Siakam, who will continue to play as No. 43 after joining the Pacers. The Warriors have been chasing Siakam since 2021, and they have recently negotiated with the Raptors, who asked for Kuminga + Paul + 2 first-round picks, but the Warriors were reluctant.

After losing the mid-season final, Haliburton knew he needed a strong helper, and he reached out to Siakam. The two 2024 first-round picks sent away by the Pacers are the Pacers' own draft picks and the other is from the Thunder: Jazz, Rockets, Clippers, Thunder, the lowest first-round pick of the four.

The Pacers are currently sixth in the East, and the Thunder are second in the West, so the probability of these two first-round picks in 2024 is not high. According to ESPN, Siakam is excited about the deal and wants to re-sign with the Pacers this summer. Sika's four-year, $130 million contract expires this summer for $37.89 million this season.

Siakam was born on April 2, 1994, and is not yet 30 years old. He played in 39 games for the Raptors this season, averaging 22.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.8 steals and 2.1 turnovers in 34.7 minutes per game, while shooting 52.1%, 31.5% and 75.8% from three. thought he was the boss of the Raptors, but he was still traded in the end.

Siakam, the Raptors boss, is simply too cowardly and has been peddled for the past two years. Not only that, but the Raptors also made it clear that Sika would not give him a satisfactory contract extension! Siakam revealed to the media that he was confused and heartbroken by the Raptors' approach because he had always been loyal to the Raptors.

Having said that, Siakam can provide the defense that the Pacers lack, and his combination with Haliburton is worth looking forward to!